Ferrell says his Bush on stage will surprise

Universal City, Calif. — Will Ferrell says audiences should expect the unexpected from his upcoming one-man Broadway show and HBO special about President George W. Bush.

Ferrell, known for his Bush impersonation on “Saturday Night Live,” said Friday there’s nothing derivative about the production. He says it will surprise people with its twists and turns and what it has to say about Bush.

Executive producer Adam McKay says the show aims to be funny but also hold the Bush administration’s feet to the fire.

“Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush” is set to begin previews Jan. 20 and open Feb. 5. It will air live on HBO March 14.

Tony Shalhoub looks to life after ‘Monk’

Milwaukee — Actor Tony Shalhoub says as much as he loves Adrian Monk, eight years portraying the obsessive-compulsive private investigator is enough for him.

The second half of the seventh season of “Monk” began airing Friday on the USA Network, and the Green Bay native will start shooting the last season in March.

“It’s a great job, and I work with great people, and I really enjoy doing the character, but I think eight years is enough,” he said in a phone interview Thursday. “I think we’ve kind of explored all the avenues we could possibly cover, and as much as I like the show and working on it, I really do want to think about moving onto whatever the next chapter might be.”

Shalhoub also produces “Monk” and said he wants to produce more after the detective show ends.

Shalhoub has won three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his work on “Monk” and is nominated for another Golden Globe in the ceremony that airs today.

‘Idol’ winner’s home won’t be auctioned

Raleigh, N.C. — An attorney for a lending company says the auction of a million-dollar home belonging to “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino won’t happen because an agreement has been reached.

Charlotte-based attorney Larry Goldman said Saturday in an e-mail to The Associated Press the two sides have worked out the matter. He did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

Goldman represents the Florida company that was trying to get the 2004 “American Idol” winner to repay money it loaned her in 2006 for tax payments on one of her homes in Charlotte, N.C.

If the agreement hadn’t been reached, the $1.1 million home would have been sold Monday by the Mecklenberg County Sheriff’s Office.